Upper School Archives

Upper School Division News September 12, 2024

September 12, 2024

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, September 13: PA Grade Rep Meeting, 8-9 AM, Family Commons
Sunday, September 15: New Student Admission & Indexed Tuition Applications Open
Tuesday, September 17: US G9/New G10 Students Signs of Suicide Screening
Wednesday, September 18: US G11 Signs of Suicide Screening
Thursday, September 19: US Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
Sunday, September 22: Twin Cities Partnership College Fair, 1-3 PM, Breck School
Monday, September 23-Saturday, September 28: Homecoming Week
Friday, September 27: PreK-12 Spirit Wear Day
Friday, September 27: G3-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:30-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
Friday, September 27: US Homecoming BBQ, 5-7 PM, Courtyard, US Commons (rain back-up)
Friday, September 27: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons, RSVP here >
Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
Saturday, September 28: US Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM, MPA Campus
Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track
Tuesday, October 1: US Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
Saturday, October 5: Debate Tournament, 7 AM-4 PM, US and MS Classrooms

One of the most wonderful things about being an Upper School administrator is that I get to be a fly on the wall of the social and academic lives of young adults. Having the ability to sit in the Family Commons as they eat lunch, drop into a classroom to listen to their discussions, and casually watch them as they engage with one another in the Upper School Commons is a benefit that comes with the job. This year has been different than past years as students have focused on their interpersonal relationships and in-person communication rather than being distracted by their cellular telephones.

In a recent article for Educational Leadership, classroom teacher Matthew Kays shared, “The focus on and distraction of cell phones took up more and more class time, and had a noticeable (negative) effect on the amount of work students got done.” With this realization, last spring Kays’ school required that students “separated” from their phones. Within just a few weeks, Kays and his colleagues reported that “Students’ production during work periods went back to what we were seeing from 2006-2016. … almost none of our interactions were about managing (and taking) students’ phones.”

Reflecting on Safety and Community In Light Of The Recent Tragedy

September 5, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

The recent school shooting in Georgia has deeply affected me, both as a parent and as the head of our school. The tragedy of losing innocent lives in a place of learning is heart-wrenching and fills me with profound sadness. My thoughts are with the families of the students and teachers who were killed and with the Apalachee High School community.

In the wake of such events, it’s natural to have concerns about the safety and security of our own children at school. I want to assure you that I have full confidence in our security measures and a deep trust in the strength of our school community. Nonetheless, we remain vigilant and committed to continuous improvement. I’d like to outline our approach to ensuring safety and security at MPA.

Our focus is not solely on security but also on fostering a positive school culture—a broader concept that encompasses both security measures and the values we uphold as a community. While security involves physical protocols and practices—what some might refer to as “hard” security—school culture encompasses the values and relationships that connect us all. Balancing these aspects is a crucial part of my role as head of school. Read More

Join MPA’s Grade 7-12 Sailing Team

August 29, 2024

Did you know that MPA has a highly competitive and successful sailing team? While sailing is not an MSHSL sport and is run as a club at MPA, our sailors have competed at the regional, national, and collegiate levels annually for many years. No experience or boat is needed to join, and all are welcome from grades seven through 12. In fact, it’s free for the first week! Sailing is a lifelong sport that is both technical and physical, and it is a great way to make friends from MPA and other schools.

Details:

Practices are held September 3-October 24 (weather permitting) at White Bear Sailing School.
Attendance is free September 3-5—come try out the sport!
MPA’s team is coached and practices alongside sailors from Mahtomedi Public Schools, White Bear Public Schools, and other area schools.
Practices are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-6:30 PM.
Potluck and parent night Saturday, September 7 at 7 PM.
Parent information meeting slides can be found here.
Regattas are optional but encouraged and held on Saturdays on lakes throughout the Twin Cities.
Sailing is a spring and/or fall sport and students can participate in one or both seasons.
Some personal gear is required to ensure safety on the water—some gear may be available to borrow.
The cost is $550 per season and includes coaching and the use of boats and other equipment.

Registration and more information can be found here. If you have any questions, please reach out to MPA’s sailing team advisor, Natalie Waters Seum at nwatersseum@moundsparkacademy.org. We hope to see you on the water!

Get Ready For The Ice Cream Social!

August 29, 2024

Let’s celebrate the start of an incredible year! Make plans to join us for a beloved MPA tradition, the Ice Cream Social on Friday, September 6, from 3-4 PM on the South Lawn! This is an all-school opportunity to connect with one another, enjoy a sweet treat, and meet our new families.

Details For Lower School Families
If you are planning to attend, please meet your child at their classroom door and notify your child’s homeroom teacher in advance. Otherwise, we will send your child on the bus or to the drive thru lane as usual. All Lower School students must be directly supervised by an adult to get their ice cream.

Details For All Families
A sundae bar with all of the fixings will be available for students and their families. The ice cream will be peanut and tree nut free and provided by YoYo Donuts. All of the sundae bar toppings will be peanut and tree nut free and provided by SAGE. JonnyPops Organic Freezer Pops will be available at a separate station for food-allergic students. This should be safe for all MPA students, but it is not guaranteed. Ingredients will be available for review by parents or can be found at the link above. Because any frozen treat could be messy on a bus, bus riders will be sent home with allergy-friendly Partake cookies (free of top-9 allergens, gluten-free, vegan, OU Kosher). All students at Panther Club and Panther Den will be taken outside for a treat and supervised accordingly by Panther staff. Middle School students may navigate the event with or without a parent. If they are without a parent, they should be able to manage any allergies they may have.

If you have any questions or would like more information about ingredients, please contact communications@moundsparkacademy.org. See you there!

Emotional Milestones

August 29, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Welcome (back) to MPA and another fantastic school year!

Whether you’re a returning family or a family with one of the 103 new students joining the MPA community this year, it’s a fresh start and a new beginning for all of us.

First, I apologize for not being with you last week for Back To School Night. Instead, I was in Tucson, dropping my daughter off at the University of Arizona for her first year of college. I managed to keep my emotions in check—until we returned home, and I passed by her bedroom. The door was open, her bed was made, and her room was spotless—three things that had never been true before. After 34 years in education, helping launch hundreds of students into their futures, I knew saying goodbye would be hard. I just didn’t realize how hard.

Dropping a child off at college for the first time is a deeply emotional milestone for parents. In many ways, it parallels the experience of entrusting your child to a new school or, even for returning students, beginning a new school year. You and I are likely navigating similar emotions right now—moments that signify significant transitions in the parent-child relationship and mark our children’s growing independence. There’s also the natural anxiety about how our children will adapt to a new environment, whether it’s the magical world of kindergarten, a new grade, or the independence of college. Rest assured, our exceptional faculty and staff are dedicated to ensuring a successful transition and making a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of our students every single day. Read More

Upper School Division News August 29, 2024

August 29, 2024

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Monday, September 2: No Classes, Labor Day
Tuesday, September 3: Alumni Current Parent Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, Gallery
Wednesday, September 4: US Grade 11 Families College Counseling Meeting, 7-8 PM, Virtual Meeting
Friday, September 6: School Photos, 7:30 AM-12 PM, Indoor Track
Friday, September 6: Ice Cream Social, 3-4 PM, South Lawn
Tuesday, September 10: US Grade 12 Parent College Counseling Night, 6:30-7:30 PM, Virtual Meeting
Thursday, September 12: MS/US International Program Back to School Social, 3:30-5 PM, Benz Courtyard
Sunday, September 15: Admission & Indexed Tuition Applications Open
Tuesday, September 17: US Signs of Suicide Screening (G9 & New G10 Students), 7:30 AM-2 PM, PCR
Wednesday, September 18: US Signs of Suicide Screening (G11), 7:30 AM-2 PM, PCR
Sunday, September 22: Twin Cities Partnership College Fair, 1-3 PM, Breck School

Summer is one of my favorite times of year – the sun shines more brightly, the days are longer, and the green grass provides a wonderful balance of color to the bright blue summer sky. It is the perfect time for me to think about the previous school year while planning and adjusting for the upcoming one. It is also a time where the school building can be eerily quiet as most teachers, administrators, and students are enjoying the slower pace of the year and are on vacation. Each year, while I sit at my desk in the quiet building, I play Simon and Garfunkel’s famous ballad, “The Sound of Silence.” As much as I enjoy the solitude, there is something special about the return of students and faculty and the noise that comes with them to campus.

Back To School Details

July 25, 2024

We are getting ready for the 2024-25 school year and we hope that you are as excited as we are! Below you will find all of the details about each Back To School event. If you have any questions, please reach out to your division director or the Office of Communications at communications@moundsparkacademy.org.

Thursday, August 22
New Family* Orientation & Back To School Night
*New families are considered those with students who are just joining our school PLUS all returning families with a student in grades PreK, K, 5, or 9 this fall.

4 PM | New Family Arrival, plus all returning families with a student in K, grade 5, or 9
6 PM | Returning Family Arrival
6:15 PM | All-School Welcome Back Assembly
7:15 PM | Departure

NEW FAMILY DETAILED AGENDA >
RETURNING FAMILY DETAILED AGENDA >

Thursday, August 22
School Photos During Back To School Night
Updated Location: Indoor Track

3:45-6 PM | Session One
6:30-7:30 PM | Session Two

We are so delighted to be joining you for Picture Day again this year. Get ready for the BEST PICTURE DAY EVER!

School pictures will be happening during the Back To School Night on August 22. Visit mpa.link/schoolphotos to sign up for your arrival window based on the schedule you will follow. If the line is too long, just come back later!
If you are unable to attend Back To School Night for pictures or would prefer to have them taken on a school day, the second Picture Day will be Friday, September 6. Retake Day will be Tuesday, October 1.
Lower School students do not wear uniforms for Picture Day.
Be sure to add hello@slowroadphoto.com to your email contacts to ensure you receive all the communications and info from us. You will hear from us directly via email on August 15.
Please feel free to check out the resources available on our website, including our Parents’ Guide at mpa.link/parentguide.
If you have any questions regarding Picture Day or image ordering and delivery, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly at hello@slowroadphoto.com.
If you have any questions regarding Picture Day or image ordering and delivery, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly at hello@slowroadphoto.com.

SIGN-UP FOR A PICTURE TIME >
Read More

Reflections From Parents Of The MPA Class Of 2024 Lifers

July 12, 2024

Parents of Lifers are those who chose MPA for their children every year for all 13 years of their education. Right before they graduated from MPA, we interviewed the Class of 2024 Lifers in a group reflection on their MPA journeys. After hearing their touching reflections, filled with gratitude for MPA, advice, and optimism for the future, led us to further expand on the conversation to their parents.

How has MPA’s community supported and shaped your child?

Lisa (Nora ’24): For my kids, I think the opportunity to do a substantial amount of fine arts. They both played in instrumental groups as well as choirs. Athletics has been just a great opportunity–one child did three sports and the other did two.

Katie (Ben ’24): It’s being able to do everything. I felt a fair amount of pressure in high school–which happened to be public high school–and I thought I got a really fabulous education, but I had to do more picking. It was kind of like, “Well, you’re either devoted to this program or you’re going to be devoted to this program.” And I feel like Ben has gotten an opportunity to do a lot of different things. There’s flexibility and a willingness, too. That’s helped make him more well-rounded. In other places, he would’ve dropped off some of these things and really lost out on what is going to end up being life-changing, and now things that I would’ve never imagined him continuing to do in college, he’s going to try to continue to do in college.

Mike (Molly ’24): Being a younger sibling and the kid of an employee, Molly doesn’t remember ever not coming here. She was carried here certainly before she was walking. In her particular case, the community shaped her even in all the time she wasn’t yet a student here. It’s the place where she was always known and looked out for. We’ll take a lot of what happened outside the classroom as much as anything would happen inside.

Mark (Hunter ’24): I think the size. Hunter had the opportunity to do pretty much whatever he wanted and it was good to know that people are always looking out and saying, “Keep moving forward,” because I know kids can get lost in the shuffle.

Jeremy (Jay ’24): Jay’s been able to do so many things. A lead in a play, choir, jazz band, and multiple sports. I always tell him being able to be a big fish in a little pond sometimes is a good thing, because you get to be able to try everything. That has been very special here, those opportunities.

Kristi (Jay ’24): The opportunities he’s had across the board. I don’t think he would’ve been in a school play if he was at a different school. And selfishly, I already knew that there were outstanding teachers here–some of them that I had!–so I knew from the get-go what he was getting into and how it was going to help him flourish in school, because I feel like that’s a huge piece too–knowing how supportive and invested all these outstanding teachers are. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Nelle Tokheim!

July 9, 2024

Welcome to MPA, Nelle Tokheim! Nelle will be joining us as the library assistant later this fall. We can’t wait to introduce her to our community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I worked for St. Paul Public Schools.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in physical education and health from Luther College. I wound up working in the fitness industry for ten years before staying home for a while with my two kids. When I decided to return to work, I realized that I still enjoyed working in schools with students and that I truly enjoyed connecting with them through books! I have worked at St. Paul Public Schools for the past three years. I have been running the library at one of their elementary schools, and it was a blast!

What did you find appealing about MPA?
MPA has been part of me for 42 years. I was an MPA Lifer back in the day, and when my family moved back to Minnesota from Colorado, we chose this school because we wanted our kids to feel safe, supported, and part of a community. I love the connection that students have with staff. I also love how the school has grown into its own identity over the years!

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I want to help kids love books! I don’t want reading to feel like a chore every time. My belief is that reading is reading, whether your child reads chapter books, biographies or graphic novels. Hopefully, I can help students discover what a joy reading a book can be!

What’s your big dream?
To earn my Master of Library Science.

What are you and your family passionate about?
I am passionate about soccer (ask Mr. Scinto)! I played through college and well into my adult years until an injury stopped me in recent years. I attend as many MNUFC games as I can and try to support the MN Aurora as well.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I met my husband rappelling from the ceiling of a building.

Eddie And Megan Snider Punch Tickets To State!

June 3, 2024

Congratulations to Eddie ’25 and Megan Snider ‘27 as the pair of Panthers punched their tickets to state during the two-day Section 4A track and field championships held on May 30 and June 1 at Bethel University! The siblings secured spots in the Class A state track and field championship meet in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter races.

Megan was the first to grab a bid, racing in the 3,200 on the first day of action during the section meet. She kept her stride strong to finish the race in 11:34.30, earning her the silver medal and a trip to St. Michael-Albertville High School for the upcoming state showdown. Eddie’s turn to try to take a trip to the coveted tournament came after Megan’s triumph. Leaving no doubt that he would join his sister, Eddie blazed to a 9:51.51 to take first place in the meet, winning by .23 seconds over the second-place finisher from West Lutheran.

With bids secured, the pair wasn’t done there. Heading into Saturday hungry for more, Megan again had the day’s first opportunity, taking to the 1,600. She upgraded her showing from the first day of sections, claiming the top spot on the podium and finishing the race in 5:20.66.

Like the prior occasion, Eddie’s chance to match his sister was shortly thereafter. The boys 1,600 featured a tight race with the top four runners all neck and neck and Eddie right in the mix. Though Eddie claimed a bronze medal in the meet (4.24.90), with the top two automatically advancing to state, he advanced to state by meeting the state track and field standards (4.28.41). The showing was a personal best performance for Eddie!

The two will now prepare for the trip to the MSHSL Class A state track and field championships! Both will race in the 3,200 on Thursday, June 6, before returning to STMA for the 1,600 the following night. Good luck, Eddie and Megan!

More Strong Results For The Panthers
Nearly matching Eddie and Megan with a state berth of his own was Ben Murr ’24 and his performance in the 800. Ben burned to a personal best at 2:00.99 to place third in the meet (top two go to state). He also added a sixth-place finish in the 1,600 via a time of 4.28.97, a personal record.

Ben’s showing at sections wasn’t done there as he teamed up with Jay Green ‘24, Bryan Wong ‘24, and Alex Larson ’26 in the 4×400 relay to help the relay to fifth place. The quartet ran a 3:35.86 for the placement. The girls 4×400 relay, made up of Nora Pederson ’24, Annika Binstadt ’25, Delaney Cunnington ’25, and Rowan Mulrooney ’25, nearly matched the other side of the team’s performance by taking sixth place at 4:19.29. Nora took sixth in the high jump (4-10), Jay added eighth in the high jump (5-11), Delaney chipped in an eighth of her own in the long jump (16-4.5), Josh Murr ’27 raced to eighth in the 3,200 (10:45.95), Rowan placed ninth in the 300 hurdles (51.86) and the 4×800, consisting of Trevor Lien ’24, Oliver Frey ’24, Odin Foote ’25, and Soren Winikoff ’26, finished ninth (8:58.32).

The Panthers’ combined efforts helped the team finish 10th place in the section meet for both boys and girls. Go, Panthers!